Google’s shares crashed by 8 per cent on Thursday, after the web search giant
published its results prematurely and exposed a 20 per cent fall in its
profits, says Matt Warman.

The results has been scheduled for publication after markets closed in New York, but they were accidentally released early, still with a gap for a quote from Google’s chief executive, Larry Page.

Google's stock dropped 8 per cent to close at $695 after the Internet giant's third-quarter results showed earnings and revenue fell short of forecasts. Trading of the stock was halted for two and a half hours before it resumed at 3:20 p.m (EDT).

The company, which earlier this month surpassed Microsoft in terms of value, saw its third-quarter profits slide because of spiralling costs and a decline in advertising prices.

The Telegraph's Consumer Technology Editor Matt Warman said that the share drop showed how "uncertain Wall Street and the stock market is about the technology sector."